Trial start

[jenever]

I turned up to an interview with a consultancy once and they took me to a client site as part of a days trial - it was a con, the consultancy just needed someone for a day.

Sure it wasn't the agency at fault (though they may have been in on it), but in the same situation now I would have no problem with a days trial but would want to talk to the client first to find out if there was a real job and the chance of a good fit.

[nobody here but us chicke]

talk talk talk

I would do it but I would want to talk to the client first and I would want to know how many poeple they are trialing like this.

sounds like a cheap way of getting specific support or consultancy.

Perhaps use it to see what their problems are and give them a fixed price quote for investigatrion and or resolution ?

[Rebecca Loos]

I suppose it's feasible to go there for one day, if say you are not currently in a contract and therefore are not invoicing anyway. On site, make sure you don't give them anything that can be used without you - just make noises about how you would do things, but don't write it on a document, just go to meetings and say that you could, if you got the contract, explain it in a doc.
Write sample codes if you like but only save them on the C: drive and remove them before you go - and if you compile them, delete them from the server/database on which they have been compiled.

And I would still try to go direct, especially if it's a scum agency like CF or Regressive. The client might be pleased to save a few bobs, unless they have some sort of exclusive agreement with said agency.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Why not agree with the provisio that should the client not keep you after the first day, then in return the client will perform a days work at your discretion, ie cleaning or gardening chez vous.

[Spodicus]

Visit the client, find out what is required, dangle the carrot and be prepared to walk away.

[DodgyAgent]

It is a matter of trust

Visit the client, find out what is required, dangle the carrot and be prepared to walk away.

I did once place someone on a similar basis. The client rang me and said that he wanted a project manager with XYZ skills, that he wanted me to select him and start him in 2 days time. He did not want to interview a selection of candidates. He then said that if the candidate was not up to the job he would send him straight back without paying a penny and nor would he deal with me again.

It turned out well and the contractor secured a 12 month contract.

The moral of the story is that, like most things in life a neat set of rules do not apply, that one has to use ones brain, instinct and experiences to determine whether or not an opportunity is a good one.

[DodgyAgent]

Why not agree with the provisio that should the client not keep you after the first day, then in return the client will perform a days work at your discretion, ie cleaning or gardening chez vous.

You lot really do not have any idea of what selling is about do you? Thank god you have us to look after all that for you

[voron]

He then said that if the candidate was not up to the job he would send him straight back without paying a penny and nor would he deal with me again.

Why not deal with you again? The contractor works for himself not the agency. Is this another example of agencies being confused with consultancies?

[Joe Black]

I did once place someone on a similar basis. The client rang me and said that he wanted a project manager with XYZ skills, that he wanted me to select him and start him in 2 days time. He did not want to interview a selection of candidates. He then said that if the candidate was not up to the job he would send him straight back without paying a penny and nor would he deal with me again.

It turned out well and the contractor secured a 12 month contract.

Almost exactly how CF were describing it to me. You didn't used to be one of their consultants did you Dodgy?

Actually I can understand the point of view the agent was putting forward, that it was a way for them to win business (and me a possible contract) by getting someone in the clients door ahead of any other agency, blocking their chances as he put it.

I turned it down in the end mainly because of gut feeling, to me it still didn't sound quite right.

Then again who know's, if I'd taken up the offer then at least I would know for future reference, or possibily got a nice little job to fill in with just a fews weeks after that until the new financial year.

As for CF themselves I've had a mixed experience, one bad, but then also a couple of other good contracts including one which start out as a 3 week fill-in but when the client saw my work he managed to get me on another project which lasted almost year.

[steve'O]

You lot really do not have any idea of what selling is about do you? Thank god you have us to look after all that for you

Yeah right!
Pimp!